Aircraft-projectile



G. E. 'LAMBERSON.

AIRCRAFT PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-1, I917- 1,309,530. Patented July 8,1919.

WITNESSES I INVENTOI? ZMZ/ZAM, G-LTLme/vm ATTORNHS w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ERVIN LAMBERSON, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY-ONE PER CENT. TO GEORGE E. LAMBERSON, TWENTY-FOUR PER CENT. TO M. CLIFFORD PARDEE, TWENTY PER CENT. TO DONALD ML GILDEBSLEEVE, AND FIVE PER CENT. '10 HARRY F. E'UTT'Y, ALL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AIRCRAFT-PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 8, 1919.

Application filed October 1, 1917. Serial No. 194,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LAMBnRsoN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of- Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Aircracft-Projectile, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to increase the effective operating area of a. projectile of the character mentioned; to destroy by entangling aircraft; and to regulate the time of operation of the entangling means.

. Drawings.

Fig. 3 is a cross section, the section being taken as on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section, the section being taken as on the line,4-4 in Fig. 2.

Description.

As seen in the drawings, the shell 9 has a hollow central chamber for storing coils of flexible lines, 10. For introducing the coils, the rear end of the shell may be opened and to this end it is provided with" a screwthreaded section 11, which is engaged by a.

closure plug 12. The plug 12 is perforated .at opposite sides of the center to form tubular runways for thelines 10. Tubes 13 form eontinuations of the openings in the plug 12 for protecting the lines 10 in the explosion chamber of the projectile where the powder 14 is stored. The powder 14 is a very light charge intended only to eject the weighted members 15 from the bores 16 provided therethrough. The charges of powder 14 are ignited .by means of a fuse which is inserted in the tube 17 The tube 17 communicates with the lateral tubes 18, through which the powder 14 passes when the charge is deposited in the bores 16. The

time of the ejection of the members 15 from the bores 16 is regulated bythe length of the fuse which is deposited in the tube, 17. If the fuse is short, the time of combustion of the same will be relatively short.

The two lines 10- are held firmly in the shell 9 by the shell nose 19. The forward end of the chamber in' which the line coils rest are perforated to admit the extension of the ends of the lines therethrough. The

ends of the lines extend sufficientlyfar to -permit the nose 19 to pinch the ends of the linesbetween the base of the nose and the outer surface of the partition between the cavity wherein the nose is held and the chamber wherein the lines 10 are held.

Inpractice, the projectiles herein described -and shown are used principally as an" offensive weapon against aircraft, the

object being to strike the wings. of the craft with the flying weighted members 15, or to wrap the lines 10 around the propeller or some necessary operating element of the aeroplane, thereby disabling the same and compelling the descent thereof.

The projectile is fired from an ordinary mortar or gun. Preliminary to placing the projectile in the gun, the fuse is introduced into the tube 17 and regulated as to the distance between the end of the tube and the openings of the lateral tubes 18 in said tube 17. d

When the gun is fired; the fuse is ignited and during the flight of the projectile, the fuse is consumed to the entrance of the lateral tubes 18. There the powder in said lateral tlibes becomes ignited leading quickly tozfthe powder charges 14. These being exploded, the wei hted members 15 are ejected from the bores 16.

The gun from which the projectile is fired is rifled, and the projectile in its flight is thereby given a rapid rotary movement. When the weighted members are ejected, they immediately partake of a gyratory movement about the axis of the projectile,

and the orbit of gyration gradually increases as the lines 10 are paid out. In the end,

' it will be found that the weighted members 15 have imparted thereto an excessively rapid gyration extending over an area of relatively great dimensions.

If, when passing in the vicinity of an aeroplane, the weighted members 15 should strike the carrying planes or other structure, they would inflict a crushing damage thereto. If, on the other hand, they should pass beyond the structure of the aeroplane, the lines 10 would immediately be wound on the said structure. If any of the operating parts were involved by the lines 10, it is obvious that said parts would be immediately incapacitated compelling the descent of the aeroplane.

Claims.

ends of said coils; means for supporting said weighted members; and means for ejecting said weighted members from the rear end of said projectile while said projectile is in flight.

2. An air-craft projectile having a hollow chambered body adapted for'the storage of coils of flexible lines; a plurality of coils of lines within said chamber; means for anchoring one end of each of said coils; weighted members attached to the opposite ends of said coils; means for supporting said Weighted members; means for ejecting said weighted members from the rear end of said projectile while said projectile is in flight; and timed means for releasing said members from said projectile.

GEORGE ERVIN LAMBERSON. 

